Animal trap



Aug. 3, 1948. G. R. BRlcKl-:R f 2,446,168"

ANIMAL TRAP Filed May 30, 1944 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY lAug. 3, 1948; G. RRlcKER l 2,446,168

ANIMAL TRAP Filed May so, 1944v 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR. BY 69011/ 7?. Blik/4er' @2M W Aug. 3, 1948. G. R. BRlcKER 2,446,168

' ANIMAL TRAP Filedmay 3o, 1944 Y 5 sheets-sheet s;

Aug. 3, 1948.

v G.`R. BRICKER ANIMAL TRAP 5 'Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 30, 1944 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1948. G. R. BRICKER ANIMAL TRAP' Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 30, 1944 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY l @vk Patented Aug. 3, i948 2,446,168 OFFICE 21 i "j 4 ANIMAL TRAP Bricker,` United States Army,

' 4 Omaha, Nebr.

4 s amendedApriISO, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 4 The invention describedfhereina if patented, may `be manufactured and used-byor for the Government fory governmental4 purposes., with,

out ,thel paymentto me of any Iroyalty thereon.

This invention relates to traps, and4 more par-,4 ticularly todevicesfor trapping rodents-and other, animals and for .isolating certa-im of the animals.4

An object of this invention is to ,provide 4an4 animal traphaving ahousing whichfis divided into aliirst compartment and a second compart-4 ment, means, for, entrapping an,4 animall in the` first compartment, meansyiorlurinjg the animal from the first compartment into the second compartment, and means for entrapping the animal in the second compartment and resetting the trappingmeans of the first compartment.

, Another object ofthis invention is to provide an` animal trap composed of a rst housing and a. yseparate second housing, means4 for entrapping animals in the iirstV housing tllesecond4 housing communicating with the rsthousing,4 and the second housing being detachaloly-` secured `to the,

iirst, whereby the second housing may be, conveyed to a remote location while the first housing remains in its original location to entrap additional animals. 4

A further, object o f'lthis, invention to provide an animal trap composed'oftwo separate housings which are detaohablysecured together to provide a, unit, ,the rst housing having entrap-,4y ping means, and thesecondhousingbeing com,

municable with the first and including meansfor segregating selected animals therein. 4

, Aspecic objectl of .this invention is to provide an animal, trap composed of two separate heus-4V ings, the iirst housing having two compartments,

the first' compartment ,havingan inlet `opening 4 and a closure. therefor, means actuated by the.

weight of an `animalfor closingthe closure to entrap an animal in therst compartment, means for communicating, the second compartment with theiirst compartment," after'an animal has been trapped in `the first compartment, tpadmit vthe animalintothe second compartment, thersecond housing'being arranged for communication` with the second compartmentof` the iirst housing, and controlling coni-s manually Icontrolled means for munication therebetween."

1- A more specic' object of this invention is to, provide an animal trap which includes two 'sepa- 4 rateandcompletehousings which may be'secured second housing. 4 4

together to Aprovide a single unit, the rst 'housing-includinga iirst compartment andasecond compartment, means for entrapping animals in each compartment, means "for permitting communication between the compartments when an animalA has been entrappedin the rst com` partment,4 the second housing having separate compartments, and manually operated means for 4 affording communication between the last-named compartments, `and means for l'communicating the 4 2 s 4 4 second compartmentof the rst housing with the It is also an object of this invention to providez an animal trap 'of generally improvedconstruction, whereby the4devi`ce1will be simple, durable4 andinexpensive in construction, as `well ascon-A venient, practical, serviceable and efficient-in its` use.44 4 Withzthe foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as444the cl"escription44proceeds,` theinvention resides in, the combination ,and ar-V rangement of parts and in the details-,01'` construction herein described and claimed, it44 being, understood that various changes in form, propor` tion and minor details of' constructionmay be made within the scope of the claimswithouttdei: parting from the spirit or sacrificing any ac`lvan,` tages of the invention. 4 4 For a complete disclosure of the invention a4 detail description thereof will 4now44be given' 'in connection with the-drawingsforming apart of the speciflcationwhereinz. Vj j i4; ,4 Figure `1 is a side elevation of the 4improved, animal trap.4 4, 4 ,4 4 1 Flgurez isa plan view of the trap. 44 '4 4 4 Figure 3 is` an end elevation of the outlet-,end ofthetrap. 4 4 44, ,4 4

Figure 4` is an end elevation of the inletend of the trap, showing the ,trapclosure in4'closed position. 4 e Figure 5 is4a similar view depicting the ,closure inopenposition. 4, 4 ,44 4

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken through therst housing on the line 6-,6 4

the exterior of the door which controlscommuni:

cation between the first and second housings.,

` Figure 8v is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.` s Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional.. view taken on the `line 9--9 of Figure `1., 1 ,e 4

Figure 10` is a" composite perspective `viewin brackets, depicting the trapping, componentsof thersthousing., 4 e

Figure, `11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional'4 viewtaken through thebaitbox and partitiom frame.` 4 4 ,4 Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinallsectional view taken through the second housing on the line |2`-,l2ofFigure l s n Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevational viewvof, the second housing depicting thisinlet gates;V and` Figureli is a vertical transversesectionalfview` taken through the Second `housing on `the line 14-414 of Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings, in which corre# sponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters, there is depicted a trapwhichincludes separate elongated housings I0 andl Il: The4housing |40 includes a bottom l2, side walls 3 I3 and It,` top I 5:.and end walls 1I6 and.iI'I, and; the housing.A II;l includes a bottcmi; side walls I9 and 2E), top 2l and end walls 22 and 23. The housings may be formed of any suitablew material, but `wire mesh or other retioulated or perforated material is preferable, inasmuch as" structures formed of such materials permitvisuab observation of the animals in the trap.

The rst housing I has an entranceopening formed in the end wall II"I thereof', andfthisopening is provided with a gravity-actuated cle sure or door 26, which is mounted forvvertical sliding movement in guideways orfanges-Zlfcar-y ried by the end wall Il.A The lowerwterminal off the closure 26 is provided with an inwardly extending-projection 2d, which' engages the upper terminal of the entrance opening Z-toform a2.

stop.V l

The; downward movement 'of v`the entrance closure 26r1is; limited lby `a 'rstcomposite leverv 29, Y

der'fthefelosureZG. The spaced armsfaresupported'forpivotalmovement byv a transversely'- extendi-ng: horizontal pivot or fulcrum. rod 32' upon which thearms are journaled byl suitable means suchfasfthe-tubular bearings`32." Portions 30a o'theiarmsf extend rearwardly beyond Vfulcrumrodtand 'they are tangentia'lfly disposed relative tothe-bearings 32" anda havea platform 335ecured thereto, for a purpose to behereafter-disclosedf The-housingv I0 has al transversely-extending ,4:

partition-iBE-lseoured .therein-intizririediate-l its; terr minals to divide the hoursing-linto`f= aV iii-st compartmentifa'nd a secondcompartment3T? This partition has an opening 38 formed the-rein teper-v mit communication between therstandf-second compartments. Agate- 40; formediof reticulated, perforated or transparent material, is suspended within-1 the partition `opening 33 forY pivotal 'movement fromV a horizontally-extending' shaft* 4I.

The gate 40 is limited against lmovement t'owarvsls" 4;.

the I rst compartmentf by ltsdower'terminatf engaging the runway 38 formed inthe -opening336 ottheipartition 35; andthe movement-of the-gate rearwardly, or towards the second compartment" 31, is limited by it engaging a transverselyex'- tending.y stopfjbar 42 which is` located/in thel path off#movement'ofJ the gate 40-5 By* this@arrangement,{ the gate *mayY be moved a-1imitedf distancetapermit` an ani-mai to move 4from the rstcompartment into-the second compartment, but the ammalfis'trapped `against `movement` back into the rst compartment romthe'second compartment.

A platforml l5` is supported' fory pivot-al' movement by a`y transverse `bar or shaft 46"'extending', throughlthe sidesV of the housing I-atapoint ad# jacent 'their bottom edges` and journaled.; in.l a tubular bearing- 46' lsecured toH the underside. O f. the platform. y, rlhis platform is locatedwithin the first compartmentjbetween itsentrance and. its outlet; so that an anirn'aljwhih.en-.tersthe,A compartment.p` andmoves towards the .out1et..will causetheplatform: to swinger gravitateabout itsfnlrllm .sl'iait4`6., Theweight .ofthe AplatforrrrB is so. distributed1 thatuits.centerr of. massisilocated atthe entrance side of the fulcrum. shaft sog-that. itsrfolward, terminal. ,normally .giravitates-to.. -engagementwith. thefloor ofF therst compartment.. Arms AJ .extendtupwardlyirom tha iiorwardeter-V` minarof. the platform, and `these arms havetripf. ngers 4d, extending.; forwardly therefrom,. and* 4 these.,nge rs aree-normallyfdisposed inethe path ofimove'ment of the entrance closure, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

A second composite lever 50 is provided, and this lever is pivoted or fulcrumed on bolts or studs 5I; which are secured to the side walls I3 and I4 ofA the` housing; IIJ. This lever includes spaced parallel arms 52 which extend forwardly from the fulcrum studs 5I, and have their forward terminalsslid-ably secured to the arms 30 of the first lever. 29 by suitable eyes 53. This lever also has spaced parallel arms 54 which extend rearwardly from thepivot studs; These arms are united by a transverselyee'xtending bar 55 which is pivotally secured to a rockable and slidable closure by means of eyes or'loopsf51', as bestseenin Figure I0: The closure 56 is' supportedby the trans-- Versely-extending bar l 55 ofthe second lever, and it is'v also guided/"andisupported-fop sliding'a'nd pivotal l movement. by the gate shaft- 45Iiv When the? first lever 23" is moved about its pivotf' 'ori fil-l` v crum rod32f, the-fsecond' lever'lI--is als''ojroeked"` aboutitsvfulcrum l studs L5 I, and this rocking-movement of the? lever V'.i'llfcauses its transverselyeex# tendingfbar 55 to move inr an arcrconcentricall'y' about-the-stud's 5I".Vl As thel'aarL 55' moves upwardl ly; itapproaches the` gate 1 shaftV III; vand when` it: reaches' theu'pper lim-it o'its'movem'ent, the* closurer- 56' is disposed in` horizontal positfon as best seen in Figure 6L: Inthisposition, tlieioperring 38 between the-rstv andsecond' 'compafrtrnents-n 36 and- 313' is opel-i` so'that"l arr animal may1 pass from tlierst compartment into thesecondicompartment 'merely `bv- 'movingfthe gate ationt'l its' suspending shaft-toppen position. Y

' A re-rn'ovable'-baitV box 6U? is'- locatedwitl'iln'tliej first compartment 36-Y betweerrthe-rear'terrninal off platform @5i-'and the partition 351; andfthis'box'jhasj arcove-r1#Y pivotally' secured thereto?v The cover is preferably form-edofwiremeslr'orotirerreticu; lated or perforated material to thus* expose the" bait; but vvto '-holdy itlin Vthe 'boze Anysuitablebait maybeemployed, suchas fir'xeat,` cheese; or other. food; A'- door- 6,2 is':pivotallyf-secured` atits'ilowerj terminal tothe outersid'e wall I`3"oi"the rstcomf partment"-imrnediately` adjacent the bait` boirvll, so-that`A` accessA may' be" gained to. the" baitbox by' simply openingcthe doorll This doorBZis'pref erably--hel'd Vin'itsil closed positionbya locking ban posedrterminal provided 'with a hook or latch-66S to'l'engagerin the meshes-ofthe W-al1 |"3 to thuslck. the doorin its`closed'position'.. Bysimply moving;`

mei; 11u01;- orY latch se from engagemenewim wall I3; and then swingingthei loclingba 632iabputits pivot .65,1 the` door 6.2Qlmaybe readily.VA opened to .gain access .tothe hait..box6.l.

The housing, I"I.Acomm`unicates. with44 theomem partmentl 31 of4 housing r IDZl .through-t an... outlets` opening ,6I-formed inthe side wallitd.. of.thehous..- ing I0, land this outlet opening. isf'alignediwithiam inlet opening r85 formed.. in, the. lsidef wal-lf, t9 of thehousing, l L, Y 'hef housings Izll-y and.` I Il.-arenors.l

mal-ly .secured together linksfor .tieabars 10.; andi eachtierba-r .has onefterm-inalipivotally secureditof theehousing` I I), y indicate-da. as. 't I, land :thee opposed'. terminal lisfprovidedawithan extensiomomliook. L thateng'ag-.esgin an aperturerfl3.UV mlinkorftie-.bam

` 1nd. is-also pivotallyzsecuredrat 4onetermural-to: the? anonce ing I0, so that they provide, in effect, a` unit. Each housing is provided with a handle or bail 15 which is pivotally secured thereto, as indicated as 16, and these handles are placed side by side so that both handles may be grasped in the hand in order to convey the housings I0 and H as a unit to any required destination. Slideways orguides 'I'I` are `carried by th'e `housing I Il` at each side of the outlet opening 61 for the sliding reception ofa dooror closure V18 as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The upper terminal of the door 18 has alink 80 pivotally secured thereto,r as indicated at 8|, and the opposed terminal ofthe link is secured to the top l of housing I6 by an eye 82. A ilanged strip or sill 83 extends across the bottom `of the outlet opening 61, andthis sill receives and supports the door 18 when it is in closed position. By this arrangement, the door 13 may be readily opened by pulling upwardly on the linkll, vand whenthis door is open `the animals which are entrapped in compartment 31 of housing l0 may pass `through the outlet opening 61 of housing I0 and through an entrance opening `85 formed in the side Wall I9 of the housing II and into this housing. When the passageway between-housings I0 and` II istoremain open the door I8 may be allowed gto rest on the top of one of the housings as shown vin Fig. 2.

The entrance opening 85 of the housing -is surroundedby a `frame 86, and a stop bar or rod 81 is supported byl side flanges 88 of the-frame 86, and this rod limits the inward or opening movement of a gate 90 `which issuspended `for pivotal movement within the inlet opening l 85 from a. hinge shaft 9|. As an animal passes from the compartment 31 `of the housing into housing I I, it `forcesthe swinging gate 90 inwardly until it engages the stop bar 81 and, in thisfposition, an animal may enter the housing I. After the animal disengages `the swinging gate 98, the gate swings back to its normal position and the outward movement of this gateis limited by engaging a sill flange 92 carried by the entrance-opening frame 86. l l y Housing I I is provided with a partition `95 Whichis `hinged at its lower terminal on a transversely-extending shaft 96 which is secured to the side walls |,9 and 20 of the housing I I.` The upper terminal of the partition 95 has a manipulating arm 91 pivotally secured thereto, and this arm has a hook 91a provided as its outer terminal, and this hook engages the top wall ZI of the housing I I to normally secure the hinged partition 95 in vertical position, thereby causing `the partition 95 Lto divide the housing I I into separate compartments, lwhich,provldethe third and fourth compartments of the trap as shown in full lines in Fig. 12.

Averticai guideway `96a is provided at each side of the end wall I6 of housing I0, and alsoat each sideof the end wall 22 of housing I I for the sliding reception of transparent panels ||l| `andll. The bottom of each panel is received in a anged sill l99 `which supports the weight of the panel. Thumb screws or boltsy |80 are screwed into threaded apertures formed in the end wall I6 and 22, and each screw |00 islocated above each panel in the pathy of the upward movement ofthe panel to normally lock the panel against vertical movement in its guideways. Y The panel VIllI forms a transparent closure for compartment 31 `:of housing I0, and the panel 98 forms a transparent closure for the third compartment of the trap; In-

asmuch as thel panels IIJI and 98 are transparent, they lure trapped animals which are seeking to escape tomove towards the panels. l I

o In operation, .the manipulating handle 3| of the first/lever 29 extends forwardly'beyond the front ofthe housing so that it may be grasped by'ian operator and elevated Vtoswing the lever upwardly aboutits fulcrum shaft 32. `Inasmuoh as thermanipulatingrhandlel of thelever 29 engages the lower terminal `of the entrance closure 26, this closure is `moved `upwardlyas the manipulating handle lmoves upwardly. When the closure 26 approaches the limit of its upwardmovementy the lingers 48, which are supported from the platform 145, are disengaged from the closure 26, thereby permitting the` forward portion of the rst platform 45 to gravitate about its fulcrum 'for-engagement withthe bottom |.2 of the housing, thus locatingthe fingers 48 inthe path of downward travel ofthe closure 26, tothus hold the closure 26 in its elevated position. YWhen the manipulating handle 3| of the first lever 29 is released, after elevating the entranceclosure 26, the arms3lland l handle 3 `of this first lever move downwardly until their movement is limited by the manipulating handle 3| engaging the bottom I2 of the housing Ill. As :the handlelll` and `arms3l| move `downwardly, the rearwardly extendingarms A3|l|a move upwardly, therebyrocking the `composite `lever 5|) about fulcrum studs 5|, whichcauses arms 54 to exert a pull onthe partition closure 56 to slide it upwardly `overthe gate shaft 4|. As the ,closure 56 moves upwardly, it` swings around the `gate shaft 4| and assumes ahorizontali position when the limit of its upward movement, has been reached. iThis position of the vclosure `5|ileaves the partition 3'.iopen` to permitcommunication between the compartments 36 `and 31 of housing Assuming that the bait box 60 has been filled with a suitablebait, the trap is now set in trapping condition; `A rat or other animal is induced to enterlthe first compartment 36 through the entrance opening 25 bythe presence of 'the bait at therear of this` compartment;` After the `animalyenters the compartment 36it -moves rearwardly-along the first platform 45,1butwhen it moveslbeyond thesupportingshaft 46,'the weight of theanimal causes the platformV to gravitate` about this fulcrum shaftso `that it `forward `terminal moves upwardly anditsrear terminal engages the bottom I2 of,v the housing Ill.V This causesthe fingers 4,8 tomiove from engagement with the bottom of the entrance closure 26, thereby permitting this` closure to gravitate `to closed positionthus entrapping the animal in the rst compartment 36. `The entrapped animal, seeking to escape, will be lured intothe second compartment 31 by the apparently open .outer `endof the second compartment'beyond screendoor 46, inasmuch` 'as transparent panel |0| is in alignment with the opening 3,8-of partition 35.H When the animalenters compartment 31 through the partition opening 38, it steps on the .second platform 33 and movesrearwardly in this compartment towards the `.transparent lure panel |0|;. l Thejanimals weight I:causes the second platform` 33 to gravitate aboutits-fulcrum shaft` 32, thereby raising the forward arms 36` and their manipulatingl handle 3|. l vThe manipulating handlel, in turn, raises the entrance closure 26.V As theforwardlarms ofv the first lever 29fmove upwardly,- they'swing the `second lever 50 about its fulcrum studs. 5| and close the partition eloi sure 56 by "sliding` it downwardlyrover horizontal gate shaft 4| to a' nearly Vertical position athwart the partition opening 38, thus entrapping the 'anlmal inthe second compartment 31. If liti is de-` siredto'transfer the animalirom the second'inanonce `tl-ie outlet' closureL T8 of the secondcompartmcnt israi'sed; thus permitting the animal to move into the third compartment. Aspartition :closure Sseparatestheanimal inthe second compartmentlrom thebait bcx'tUV-in the iirst `compartment, :the animal will be anxiousy to leave thesecond ycompartment for the third compartment, thus releasing thev pressure on the secondplat'- torn-133, which i-n'turn resets the trap for another animal.`

These' operationslare repeated until fa suillcient numberof aniin'alsfhave been entrapped in the third'fcompartment, and if `it isdesired to segregate'oneor more of the animals, the pivotedpartltion f95lis moveddownwardly towards thethird c'om'pax'tmentr by manipulating the arm v91, and thenthe selected 'ariii'nal is coaxedor prodded'fon to' this partitionwhich, in effect,` now forms a part lofthe bottom ofthe housingv Il. AAfter the selectedanimal has vmoved into the fourth compartment, the partition' 95 is' then lclosedby swingingfitffaround its' pivot shaft 96., an'd'it'is locked ln this positlonby again movingthe hooi: Major the manipulating army 8l into securing rengagelient'withthe top 2l of the housing 'l I. r

'l Whenitis desired to dispose of the trapped'animais or to transport'them to another location, the door 18'is closed, and? then the tie links "Ill and Nia.4 are released, thus `detaclfii'n'g 'thel'iousing il yfrom' the housing I0. Now the housing Il, vvitli the entrappedlanimals, may be transported to any des'i1ed'location,'and the housing I0 may re;- inainand continue to functioto trap additional animals. "The animals which are' entrappedin ing screw H10', thus permitting the transparent panelfllft'o be removed tol open theen'd off the housing. rThe animals which have been `entrapped'` in the fourthfcompartment may be retainediior further observation, or they may be destroyed Within the compartment; -Th'ese animais may be removed from theiourth compartment by swinging the-partition 95 downwardly and then removing the animals through the open end offthe housing Il. Inasmuchas the housing Ii'may-b'e conveniently separated fromthe housing' Illlfthis permits the animals whichare entrapped within the housing Il to be readily drowned by irmm'ersing themin a'sha'llowreceptandi, v`furthermore, since the: selectedanimals mh be isolated inthe fourth compartment; these animals may be drowned or' otherwise .destroyed iiif'thi-sv compartment without the destruction of thealnim'a'ls in the third compartment.

Having thus' describedV my invention, claim as new and useful is:

' l; Ananimal trap including a first compartment'and'asecond compartmentseparated by a what I ypartitir'nrvthe iirst compartment lhaving' anont'rance opening, the partition having an `opening formed therein' topermit communication between the nrst and second compartments, a-:rst closure movable to openuand close the entrance opening, asecon'd *closureJ movable to open; and close the partitionV opening, a gravity-actuatedplatform located'inthe first compartment andloperablewhen 1oz-normal position to support' the first closure vin open position and'act'uatable by the `weig'htof the ,animal which enters the iirst compartment through the entrance opening to release the first "closurerior movementto yclose the entran'ceopen- 8 liig, va Vsecond gravity-'actuated plat-form located in the second compartment?'and'foperably 'coni nected With the first and: 'secon-d clo'siirasavi'cl second platform-being -operable' independentlyof said inst platform and .actuatable by trfeiweight offthe 'animal'to "operiv therst closure andic'lose thesecondclosure ftherebyfsetting thetrap forth-e entrance .of other animals into the -rstioompartiment and'trapp-ingthe animal in the 's'econdicompartment; and a third compartmentinlcommuni# cationpeimitting relation with'I the second-corri# partment, fand athird closure operable 'tori-selec#- tvely separating or permitting communication betweentlie second compartmentv and rthe third compartment. j V A 2. animar trap inducinga nist'- compart-Y :ment and a second compartment separated by' a partition, -the iirst compartment having anl en-` trance opening, the partition having an opening formed therein to permit communicationbetween the first and second compartments, a rst closure movable to open and close the entrance opening', asecond` closure movableto open and close the opening in said partition, a gravity-actuated platform located in the ilrst compartment and opra` blewhen ih normalposition to support the rst closure in open position andactuatable by the weight of an animal whichgenters the iifrs'tcompartfment through the entrance 'opening to release the first closure for movement t'oclf'isev :the entrance opening, a second gravity-actuated lplat`- form located nfthe second compartiment, `said second platform being in operable relation with the first and second closures, said two platforms being operable independently of each other; and

said second platform being actuatable by the weightof the animal to open the first closure and close thc second closure, thereby setting the trap for the entrance of other animals intotheV first compartment and trapping the animal in the second compartment. 3; An animal trap according to claim 2; wherein a'baitbox is located in said first compartment, and wherein a Wall of said second compartment has a' transparent pan'el'aligned with the opening in said partition, whereby an animal trapped in said rst baitb'ox-equipped compartment is induced to leave the same and to enter saidsec'- ond ycompartment'.`

A4.51m animal trap including a first compart ment and a second compartment separated by a partition, the rst compartment having an en'- trancefopening, the partition-having an `opening formed therein to permit communication between the'iirst and second compartments, a baitboxin the iirst` compartment, a first closure 'movable to open and close the entrance opening, a vsecond closure movable to selectively open and obstruct the opening in said partition Wall, a 'gravity-actua'ted platform located in the iirst compartment and operable when in normal position tos'uppor't the rst closure in open position and actuatable by the Weight of an animal which enters the first compartment through the entrance opening to re"- lease the rst closure for movement to close the entrance opening, a second gravity-actuated platform located in the'secondcompartment and in operable relation With the iirst and second closures, said second platform being operable inde` pendently of said first platform and actuatable by f the lWeight of theani-mal to open' the first closure and close'the second closure, thereby setting the trapfor the entrance of other animals into` the first 'compart'mentv and separatingthe animal in the second compartment from the baitbox.

5. An animal trap including a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a partition, the first compartment having an entrance opening, the partition having an opening formed therein to permit communication between the rst and second compartments, a rst closure movable to open and close the entrance opening, a second closure movable to open and close the partition opening, a gravity-actuated platform located in the first compartment and operable when in normal position to support the rst closure in open position and actuatable by the weight of the animal which enters the rst compartment through the entrance opening to release the first closure for movement to close the entrance opening, a second gravity-actuated platform located in the second compartment and operably connected with the first and second closures, said second platform being operable independently of said first platform and actuatable by the weight of the animal to open the first closure and close the second closure thereby setting the trap for the entrance of other animals into the rst compartment and trapping the animal in the second compartment, a third compartment in communication-permitting relation with the second compartment, and a third closure manually operable for selectively separating or permitting communication between the second compartment and the third compartments, and a fourth compartment in communcation-permitting relation with the third compartment and a manually-controlled closure operable for selectively separating or permitting communication between the third and fourth compartments whereby an animal may be isolated in the fourth compartment for observation or destruction.

6. An animal trap including a rst compartment and a second compartment separated by a partition, the first compartment having an entrance opening, the partition having an opening formed therein to permit communication between the first and second compartments, a closure movable to open and close the entrance opening, a one-way gate in said partition opening to permit passage of an animal from said first compartment to said second compartment while obstructing passage of an animal from said second compartment to said rst compartment, a gravity-actuated platform located in the first compartment and operable when in normal position to support the rst closure in open position and actuatable by the Weight of an animal which enters the first compartment through the entrance opening to release the rst closure for movement to close the entrance opening, a second gravityactuated platform located in the second compartment, said second platform having means operably contacting said closure, said second platform and said last named means being operable independently of said rst platform and actuatable by the weight of the animal to open the first closure, thereby setting the trap for the entrance of another animal into the first compartment.

7. An animal trap including a housing, a partition located in the housing to divide it into a first compartment and a second compartment, the

first compartment having an entrance opening, the partition having an opening formed therein through which the first compartment may be communicated with the second compartment, a

first closure movably secured to the housing and operable to open and close the entrance opening, a second closure for closing the opening in said partition, a platform pivotally supported within the rst compartment, closure-engaging means carried by the platform, the center of mass of the platform being located at one side thereof Whereby the platform normally gravitates to a position in which the closure-engaging means engage the closure to hold it open, the gravity-actuated platform being actuated by the Weight of an animal, a lever pivotally supported within the housing, a second platform supported by the lever within the second compartment, a second lever pivotally supported within the housing and having an arm engaging the rst lever and an opposed arm engaging the second closure, the second platform being actuatable by the Weight of an animal t0 open the first closure and close the second closure thereby setting the trap for the entrance of other animals into the rst compartment.

8. An vanimal `trap including a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a partition, the first compartment having an entrance opening, the partition having an opening formed therein to permit communication between the first and second compartments, a rst closure movable to open and close the entrance opening, a second closure movable to selectively open and close the opening in said partition, a gravity-actuated platform located in the rst compartment and operable when in normal position to support the first closure in open position and actuatable by the Weight of an animal which enters the rst compartment through the entrance opening to release the first closure for movement to close the entrance opening, a second gravity-actuated platform located in the second compartment and operably associated with the first and second closures, said rst and second platforms being operable independently of each other, and means operably connecting said second platform and said second closure to selectively open and close said second closure, said last-mentioned means comprising an elongated member extending from said second platform and a second elongated member operably connecting said first elongated member and said second closure to close said closure when said second platform is actuated by the weight of .the animal, thereby trapping the animal in the second compartment.

GARY R. BRICKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 71,364 Churchill Nov. 26, 1867 214,221 Williams et al Apr. 8, 1879 801,537 Massie Oct. 10, 1905 997,841 McAtee July 1l, 1911 1,098,064 Tsumura May 261, 1914 1,722,321 Atwell et al July 30, 1929 1,810,163 Englund 1 June 16, 1931 1,978,995 Fuller Oct. 30, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,706 Austria Jan. 10, 1911 Certcate o! Correction Patent No. 2,446,168. August 3, 1948.

GARY R. BRICKER It is hereby certied that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 4, line 34, after the word gate insert 40; column 5, line 10, for Figs Z and 9 read Figs. 7 to 9; column 6, L line 47, for that it read that its', and that the said Letters Patent should be read with l these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the l Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day o October, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommssoner of Patents. 

